Community Corner

Hey Mom and Dad: An All-Important Holiday Question

Parents, Patch wants to hear from you on the questions that get families talking.

Welcome to Hey Mom and Dad—a weekly feature in which we ask our Facebook fans to share their views on parenting. Every week, we get the conversation started by taking a look back at a question we asked parents the week before on Patch Facebook pages from around the area.

This week's question is a little delicate, but no less important or worthy of discussion. Without going into too much detail for those wandering eyes:

What is the appropriate age to talk to your kids about Santa Claus? 

Take a look at what people had to say and join the conversation in the comments section.

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Sharon Duncan-Cook: This is a cute story i gotta tell...im raising my grandson who is almost 10...last yr he came home from school and said..nana some kids said theres no santa...and we shouldnt leave cookies out for him cuz thats why hes so fat...so i said...oh no...santas not fat..he's jolly..we gotta leave his cookies out...along with..go make your list of things you want to tell santa you want for christmas...i said remember..only 5 things...santa has to give some of the toys to other less unfortunate kids...so he made his list...checked it twice...lol...anyway..he went and saw santa..told him of the 5 things he wanted...so christmas came and went...he went back to school and ask his friends did they get all they wanted for christmas...they said no...he said "i did"...and some extra ones that i brought to the homeless shelters for other kids...than he said... My nana says.."if you dont believe it, you wont recieve it"...lol...im glad i believe it ...lol —on Chicago Heights Patch Facebook 

Adele Palombi Propst: No need to have the talk because those rotten kids at school ruin it for them! My daughter was in 4th grade when a classmate told her! She was devastated and I was (expletive) that some kid took it upon themselves to tell her! —on Chicago Heights Patch Facebook 

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Jim Dydo: Never, don't stop believing. —on Mokena Patch Facebook

Daniel B Kaktis: How about just let them figure it for themselves? Or be sure to explain the true meaning of Christmas —on Palos Patch Facebook

Kris Hynes: If you don't believe, you don't receive :) —on Palos Patch Facebook

Kat O'Connor Borham: Why be a buzz kill. If they want to believe in Santa let them for as long as they like! It makes it more fun. There are a lot of other "stories" of great heroes and leaders that can be debunked but people feel better by believing them. —on Homewood-Flossmoor Patch Facebook

Marc A Wiley: So you would want your kid sitting in High School still talking about Santa coming down their Chimney?? —on Homewood-Flossmoor Patch Facebook

Tina Main: Parents should encourage their kids to NOT discuss this at school. What we do in our family shouldn't be affected by some other parent who feels the need to tell their younger children. Why make them grow up so fast? —on Oak Lawn Patch Facebook

Ken Crosby: At UIC children psychology they claim the child should figure it out on their own or it could make huge problems  —on Oak Lawn Patch Facebook

Carrie Beland-Helman: I made it to 11 with my youngest :) He caught us last christmas just starting to put the presents out. We told him we were just getting something to drink, so he went with it until after Chrismtas, then asked, so I told him the truth. This will be my first Christmast in 23 years with no Santa. Definately bittersweet (I look forward to a full nights sleep ;) —on Orland Park Patch Facebook

Mary Jo Wojtowicz Bagnara: I don't want my kids embarrassed by other kids that know the true meaning of Santa as they enter Jr. High so I think it's best they come to the understanding close to or around 5th grade. Though I think there are other things they learn to soon but I supposed some of them do need to learn some of that info. sooner since they are growing up fast. Some kids shouldn't learn the true meaning of Santa so soon b/c they can't keep secrets from younger children. —on Oak Forest Patch Facebook

Lisa Davison: I also like to discuss how there are Santas all over the world. They give to good people who believe in doing good. They don't always dress in red suits or have beards. I find things on the internet and read them stories also. Yes, there will come I time I will have to tell, but I'll be the single mom with a 16 & 18 year old, believing they still believe :) —on Oak Forest Patch Facebook

Jenelle LePinske Slaviero: If you don't believe you don't receive! He's in your heart and mind! —on Tinley Park Patch Facebook



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